Newly Diagnosed Crohn’s Disease Patients in India and Israel Display Distinct Presentations and Serological Markers: Insights from Prospective Cohorts.
Idan Goren ,Tali Sharar Fischler ,Henit Yanai ORCID,Partha Pal ORCID, Bhargavi Adigopula ,Sushmitha Pendyala ,Girish Ganesh ,Ravikanth Vishnubhotla ,Keren Masha Rabinowitz ,Efrat Shaham Barda ,Durga Yadamreddy ,Lihi Godny ORCID, Noam Peleg, Rupa Banerjee and Iris Dotan, on behalf of the Indo-Israeli IBD GastroEnterology Partnership (TIIIGER)
Published in Nov 2022, Journal of Clinical Medicine.
Abstract
Background
Crohn’s disease (CD) incidence is rising in India. However, features of newly diagnosed patients with CD in this population are largely unknown. The Indo-Israeli IBD Gastro-Enterology partnership (TiiiGER) aimed to investigate differences in presentation among patients with newly diagnosed CD in India and Israel, and to explore phenotype–serotype correlations.
Methods
A prospective observational cohort study of consecutive adults (>18 years) conducted in two large referral centers in India and Israel (2014–2018). Clinical data, an antiglycan serological panel, and 20 CD-associated genetic variants were analyzed. Outcomes: complicated phenotype at diagnosis and early complicated course (hospitalizations/surgeries) within 2 years of diagnosis.
Results
We included 260 patients (104, Indian (65.4%, male; age, 37.8); 156 Israeli (49.4%, male; 31.8, age)). Median lag time from symptoms onset to diagnosis was 10.5 (IQR 3–38) vs. 3 (IQR 1–8) months in Indian vs. Israeli patients (p < 0.001). Complicated phenotype at diagnosis was observed in 48% of Indian and 30% of Israeli patients (p = 0.003). Complicated phenotype was associated with higher anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA) seropositivity rate among Israeli patients (p < 0.001), but not among Indian patients. Antiglycan serology did not correlate with the tested genetic variants. Early complicated course occurred in 28 (18%) Israeli and 13 (12.5%) Indian patients. The time from diagnosis to complication was comparable (log rank p = 0.152). Antiglycan serology did not correlate with a complicated early course in either cohort.
Conclusions
There are significant differences in patients presenting with newly diagnosed CD in India and Israel, including phenotype and distinct biomarkers at diagnosis. These differences suggest different genetic and environmental disease modifiers.